A SCOTS pastor accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in the United States is to face trial next month.

Malcolm John Fraser - born in Aberdeen and brought up in Elgin - allegedly told his victim she would “go to hell” if she told anyone, according to papers lodged by prosecutors in Washington State.

Fraser, 39, the assistant pastor at Sound Doctrine Church in the city of Enumclaw, faces two counts of first-degree rape of a child. The case was due to be heard earlier this month, but has been postponed to 16 January, with a preliminary hearing on 4 January. The newest delay stems from a request by Fraser’s legal counsel.

According to Ian Goodhewof, spokesman for the King County prosecutor’s office, Fraser’s attorney filed a motion “to have the computers of the Enumclaw police department forensically examined for e-mails potentially relevant to the case”.

Superior court judge Beth Andrus ruled that the request be acted upon by 4 January and set the new trial date.

Fraser was arrested by Enumclaw police on 20 March this year. According to police papers, he is alleged to have had repeated sexual contacts with a girl during 2005 and 2006.